Kneeling bench



March 31, 1931. j KELLY 1,798,472

KNEELING BENCH Filed 001:. 5, 1928 fdwolzg; TZEEZ J Patented Mar. 31, 1931 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD T. KELLY, F GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS KNEELING BENCH Application filed October 5, 1928.

This invention relates to a bench used at funerals and other places for devotional purposes.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a bench which can be made of the desired height and width and can be folded up into a small compass when not in use, for transportation or storage, and also to provide it in such form that the foldable ends serve as supports for the top and help to make it a rigid structure when in use and to provide a structure which will be light in weight although strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the inven- '15 tion will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a kneeling bench constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and v Fig. 4 is anend view of the bench folded up. The use of kneeling benches is such that they have to be stored away and taken out at intervals for use. When in storage they 0ccupy a great deal of space and at funeral parlors a room of considerable size has to be provided simply for their storage. With my invention they can be folded up very conveniently without expenditure of much time and without taking up much space and they also can be transported in that condition whenever necessary.

The bench is formed of a back 10, a front 11 and a top consisting of two pieces 12 and 13, with two ends 14. The back and front are formed as skeleton frames with suflicient braces to make them strong and with an outside layer 15 of cane or woven reed. The ends are formed in the same way and having the same external covering 16. The top piece 12 is horizontal but is very narrow and the top piece 13 is hinged to it on a horizontal axis by hinges 17 on the inside and is located inan inclined position.

To the top piece 13 is hinged the front 11 by hinges 18 inside so as to swing on a horizontal axis. The two ends 14 are hinged Serial No. 310,539.

to the back 10 just inside the edge thereof and these ends fit within the boundaries of the other parts so that when expanded, as shown in the first three figures, they rest on the floor and support the top pieces 12 and 13, the ends of which are flush with the outer surfaces of the ends 14.

I The top piece 12 is securely fixed to the top of the back piece 10 and is in horizontal position. Its .forward edge is slanted oil so that the top piece 13, which is hinged to it underneath will be capable of being folded out just to the position shown in Fig. 3. These two parts are made of solid boards to provide a firm support and they are covered with a piece of pile carpet or other soft material 19.

It will be seen that in folding up the device the two ends are swung in as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 parallel with the back 10 and in contact therewith. Then the front 11 can be folded upwardly into contact with the rear of the top piece 13 and the latter is then swung down so as to hang at right angles at the inner edge the top piece 12.

When put in upright position the parts assume the relative positions shown in Fig. l and it will be seen that they occupy a space as high and long as the back 10 and about as wide as the top piece 12. The top piece 13, hanging down from that, can be left substantially free or they can be tied up in this condition.

This constitutes an adequate article for this purpose which, when folded, occupies so much less space than the whole bench would, that the room required for the storage of a considerable number of them is very much reduced. At the same time it is strong and durable and also light.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein shown, but what I do claim is 1. In a kneeling bench, the combination with an upright back having a narrow horizontal top piece projecting therefrom, a slanting top piece hinged thereto by inside hinges, a front hinged to the slanting top piece by inside hinges and extending vertically down therefrom to support it at the front and a pair of ends hinged inside to the back and when extended supporting the edges of the slanting top piece and, when folded, located inside the back.

2. In a kneeling bench, the combination of a back, a top piece fixed to the top of the back, a front hinged inside to the front end of the top piece and ends for assisting in sup porting the top piece, whereby the top piece and front can be folded into a position parallel to the back piece with the front between the back and hinged top piece.

8. In a kneeling bench, the combination with an upright back having afixed horizontal top piece projecting therefrom, slanting top piece hinged to the front edge of the horizontal top piece, a vertical front hinged to the lower edge of the slanting top piece and a pair of ends hinged at the rear to the opposite vertical edges of the back and adapted to be folded inwardly against the back, said front being adapted to be folded upwardly against the rear of the slanting top piece and the slanting top piece being adapted to fold downwardly parallel to the back, whereby the bench will occupy a small compass when folded and the ends extending ander the edges of the slanting front, when in use, to support it.

4:- In a folding kneeling bench, the combination with back and front frames having a light covering thereon arranged parallel with each other, a pair of ends in the form of skeleton frames with a light covering and a slanting top spaced from the back of solid material, the ends being hinged to the ends of the back frame so as to fold inwardly and the slanting top being hinged at its upper edge, and also hinged at its lower edge to the front frame so as to fold downwardly while the front can be folded upwardly between the top and back piece for storage purposes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EDlVARD T. KELLY. 

